The Limehouse Declaration was a statement issued on 25 January 1981 by four senior British Labour politicians, all MPs or former MPs and Cabinet Ministers: Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams. It became known as the Limehouse Declaration as it was made from David Owen's London home in Limehouse.
In this document the so-called 'Gang of Four' signalled their intent to leave the Labour Party and form a Council for Social Democracy, as they felt the party had been taken over by the left-wing members. This Council became the basis for the British Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The declaration was launched on a small bridge on Narrow Street, Limehouse. Organisation was very last minute with Matthew Oakshott being sent to make photocopies of the statement at the Savoy Hotel, it having the closest available photocopier, and visiting the flat of Shirley Williams to find appropriate clothes for her to wear at the press call. Public response was very positive with a reported 8000 letters of support in the first week.
The events leading up to the declaration have been dramatised in the play Limehouse by Steve Waters at the Donmar Warehouse.
The Gang of Four
The Gang of Four was made up of: